[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13585-13586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7061]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Subchapter S

[CGD 97-066]


Federal Requirements for Education in Recreational Boating Safety

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.


[[Page 13586]]


ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments; reopening of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In a document published on October 23, 1997, the Coast Guard 
requested comments from interested people, groups, and businesses about 
the need for, and alternatives to, Federal requirements or incentives 
for boaters to take courses in boating safety. The Coast Guard will 
consider all comments, and consult with the National Boating Safety 
Advisory Council (NBSAC), in determining how best to reduce the number 
of deaths among boaters caused by a lack of boating safety training. 
This document reopens the comment period.

DATE: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before May 29, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA, 3406) [CGD 97-066], U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, or 
deliver them to room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, between 9:30 a.m. 
and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Moore, Project Manager, Office of Boating Safety, Program 
Development and Implementation Division, (202) 267-0577. You may obtain 
a copy of this Notice or of the original one by calling the U.S. Coast 
Guard Infoline at 1-800-368-5647, or read either on the Internet, at 
the Web Site for the office of Boating Safety, at URL address 
www.uscgboating.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    In a Notice published on October 23, 1997 (62 FR 55199), the Coast 
Guard set the original close of the comment period at February 2, 1998, 
to allow summarizing the comments received and providing the summaries 
to the members of NBSAC before the scheduled meeting on April 27, 1998. 
Because of reported delays in publication of that Notice in several 
recreational boating periodicals, the number of comments received just 
before and just after the close of the comment period, and a request by 
the Boat Owners Association of the United States, the Coast Guard is 
reopening the comment period to provide additional time for submission 
of public comment. All comments submitted in response to the original 
Notice are already in the docket. The Coast Guard will summarize all 
comments it receives during the comment period in response to this 
Notice and the original one, place a copy of the summary in the public 
docket, and provide copies to the members of NBSAC for them to consider 
at their meeting in October, 1998. (The Coast Guard will publish 
details of the exact time and place of the meeting in the Federal 
Register at a later date. The meeting will be open to the public.) It 
will itself consider all relevant comments in the formulation of any 
regulatory or nonregulatory measures that may follow from this notice.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages you to submit comments about the need 
for, and alternatives to, Federal requirements or incentives for 
boaters to participate in boating safety education. In particular, it 
encourages you to answer the specific questions about these 
requirements or incentives for taking courses in boating safety, which 
it developed in consultation with members of NBSAC at the meeting in 
April 1997. It also solicits comments from all segments of the boating 
community, State boating safety authorities, NBSAC, the national 
Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), and other 
interested people, groups, and businesses on the economic and other 
impacts of Federal requirements or incentives for boating safety 
education.
    Please include your name and address, identify this rulemaking [CGD 
97-066] and the specific question or area of concern to which each 
comment applies, and give the reason(s) for each comment. Please submit 
two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, to help us with copying and electronic 
filing. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of your comments, please 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.

    Dated: March 12, 1998.
James D. Hull,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Assistant Commandant for 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 98-7061 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am]
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